Cultural Diversity

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Cultural Diversity Technology

• Nathan Jessee
• EDG621

2
Introduction

• This poster session deals with the cultural
  issues in technology. The use of technology by
  diverse populations and removal of bias from
  technology resources, cultural sensitivity, etc.

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Cultural Diversity Defined

• Awareness of and sensitivity to different ethnic,
  cultural, and religious backgrounds. The
  acceptance of cultural differences with a
  nonjudgmental attitude that people are unique
  individuals and define their own systems of daily
  living, which reflects their values, motives and
  lifestyles. (Silvestri, 1999).

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Questions to Ponder

• Do people from ethnic and diverse backgrounds
  have access to the Internet?
• If so, do they use it? If not, why not?
• Is technology and/or the Internet bias?
• What resources are available to students who are
  bilingual and ESL?
• How does this connect to the classroom?

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Problems

• The Internet was created by Americans for
  Americans.
• Resources
• Money
• Knowledge

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Evidence-Made for Americans

• Traditionally middle to upper class white
  families are more apt to have access to
  technology thus continuing the dominance of
  western cultural in future development of
  technology and the growth of the Internet.

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Evidence-Knowledge

• Personally when I see students of ethnic or
  diverse backgrounds at my school introduced to
  technology they are very hesitant to use it.
• Many times parents do not have access to
  technology due to social economic or language
  barriers.

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Argument

• In the issue of bias in technology
• an important lesson from Lewis and Rieman is
  that you design something for everyone it might
  well turn out to work for no one. (Pargman, 98)
• even though you try to make it work for every
  culture their seems to be a point where
  adaptation becomes necessary.

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Argument Cont...

• Americans tend to favor individually based
  values as most important while non-Americans lean
  more toward group based values (Tully, 98)
• Making it hard to come up with a unified user
  interface for everyone to use equally.
• Schools thus become the primary tool for reaching
  out to students from diverse and ethnic
  backgrounds.

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Conclusion

• There are steps being taken to address cultural
  diversity and the Internet. It will continue to
  be a challenge due to the many cultural
  differences that are represented.
• At North Godwin Elementary the students and staff
  have come a long way in bridging this gap.
• Schools will continue to be on the cutting edge
  of cultural diversity as students are being
  equipped and seeking new ways to mold and adapt
  to technology.

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Questions for Discussion

• Are schools the primary source for technology use
  or do students with diverse backgrounds receive
  that exposure elsewhere?
• How does your district handle cultural diversity
  and is it written into your technology plans or
  curriculum maps?
• Are their more disadvantages or positive things
  that could be included?
• Any questions or comments would be great ) )
  ).

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References

• Sudweeks, F. (1998). Cross-Cultural Issues
  Affecting Information Technology Use in
  Logistics. Available online at
  http//www.it.murdoch.edu.au/sudweeks/catac98/pdf
  /26_tully.pdf.
• Pargman, D. (2000). Reflections on Cultural Bias
  and Adaptation. Available online at
  http//www.it.murdoch.edu.au/sudweeks/catac98/pdf
  /06_pargman.pdf
• Silvestri, L. (1999). Saunders Comprehensive
  Review for NCLEX/RN. Harcourt Health Science
  Company Philadelphia.